Moist-roller processor for sensitized materials



Sept 7, 1954 w. BORNEMANN 2,688,281

MOIST-ROLLER PROCESSOR FOR SENSITIZED MATERIALS Filed April 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l W'illiam Bornemann INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS w. BORNEMANN sept. 7, 1954 MOIST-ROLLER PROCESSOR FOR SENSITIZED MATERIALS Filed April 20, 1951 2 Sheets--SheelI 2 fil/iam B orne/ann IN V EN TOR. BY fda/af d ATTORNEYS' Patented Sept. 7, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE MOIST-ROLLER PROCESSOR FOR SENSITIZED MATERIALS Application April 20, 1951, Serial No. 221,955

Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for the processing of sensitized photographic materials. More specifically, it relates to an improved moist-roller type of processing apparatus which is adapted to deliver processed prints in a substantially dry or semi-dry state without the need of an auxiliary drying unit.

The processing of sensitized photographic material is most commonly performed by immersing the material in a bath of processing solution for the period of time required to complete the operation. This has not proven entirely satisfactory for several reasons. The use of such baths usually involves the use of large quantities of processing solutions. Since developing solutions are subject to oxidation and rapid deterioration, any process which requires the use of but small quantities of a developer is inherently more economical. Moreover, the immersion of the sensitized material in a bath resulted in this material being completely saturated. Where the material being processed comprised photographic paper in continuous strip form, there existed the continual danger of the paper web tearing as it passed over the various rollers and guide means because of the considerable reduction in tensile strength of the paper resulting from its saturation by the processing fluid. The soaking of the sensitized material in the processing operation also necessitated the subsequent use of some type of drier which increased both the cost of the apparatus and the time of the complete operation.

As a result, the moist-roller type of processor has come into some use. In this type of apparatus the treating solution is applied to the sensitized sheet material by a roller` over which it passes, whichroller is wetted by immersion in a trough or by contact with another wetted element. In prior art devices of this type, much difficulty has been experienced in attempting to apply the solution in a thin, uniform layer whereby even a-nd uniform development might be attained with a minimum use of solution. The great majority of such devices which have gone into commercial use is employed in the processing of prints of line drawings, such as engineering drawings, in which application the matter of uniform development is not of too great importance. The device described below as an embodiment of the present invention is considered to constitute a distinct improvement over prior art devices because of its comparative simplicity and low cost of manufacture, because of its ability to apply a thin, uniform coating of processing solution whereby uniform development of the sensitized material is obtained, and because said material emerges from the device in an almost dry condition without the use of an auxiliary drying unit.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved moist-roller type of processing apparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the character described which is capable of applying a thin and uniform coating of the processing solution to the sensitized material passing therethrough.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the characted described in which the sensitized material is uniformly processed and which leaves the apparatus in a substantially dry or semi-dry condition, although no drying unit is employed therein.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the character described which is simple of operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be understood that many changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details shown and described, as the preferred form only has been shown by way of illustration. K

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a moist-roller processor embodying the present invention, the fluid dispenser unit having been omitted for the sake of greater clarity;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through one of the processing stations;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the moist-roller processor, the cover having been removed therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cover for the processor, illustrating the mounting of the guide rollers therein;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom portion of the processor in which the solution-holding troughs are formed and which provides bearings for the rollers immersed in the troughs, and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a processing station showing the operation of the several rollers.

The processing apparatus described herein as the disclosed apparatus is described as a paper processor, it will be apparent thatsucha device may also be employed for the processingof'film or any other sensitized material. This material, too, many be in the form of acontinuousstripor discrete sheets.

The apparatus illustrated in Fig. l comprises the casing Il) and cover I I whichis adapted.to be positioned thereon by means of the positioning pins I2. The casing forms the lower-half -of the processing apparatus `and serves to mount thebackfo'f thepaper at the start of the operathe pairs of applicator rollers-I3. lhezcasingA includes .a separablebottom member II in which the 'troughs 'M are :formed and which .also provides bearings for the rollers I5 which are irnmersedV or fdipv into the "troughs XIII, as 1will be apparent from Fig. 2. ,Although for tease .lf-of manufacture and for purposes of v:ready access to the various lrollers, troughsaetc., inrthe-casing for :cleaning Aand ffor general maintenance, the bottommember ri is formed, .asiseen-ing-Fig. .5, as a unit readily `separable from the casing, it could be produced integrally :therewith The trnughstor .fluid containers '|14 .are dimensioned to It ,closelytabout .thegrollers I'5 Vwhich dip therein so lthat a lminimum .of :treating y: solution .is .-rei quired for .the operation Vof tthe device. VThis obviates the need'zfor vlarge amounts of .solution with the attendantzwaste fcaused byideterioration:and;oxidation of -thefsolution` I The. apparatus "is, thusiadapted to vhandle small -batchesfof sensitized .material after which the .processing solutions may be discarded .withoutenyserious loss. '.Thellevel of solutionin thetroughs may -4be maintained by 'means .of .the feeding .cups I1 whichfhavefaccess .to ,the .troughs by meansfoiv connecting conduits fI8, index. markers being provided within .thecups tto :indicate lthe correct level. VThe.:cupszzthemselvesarezformedfin :a fuid dispenserv unit i9 which is .integral iwithithe bottom 'member :'I-S. 'The l.relative positioning of: the cup, :trough :and A:connecting conduit is clearly crease the necessary drying time.

shovvnn Fig.:2.' 'Recesses;20. cutlinto .thezbottom f other end to one of said trunnions oreachpair of applicator vrollers whereby each fpair of applicator rollers I3 will normally :rest by its ovvn weight upon a roller I5 and each of the :two rollers i3 will make ...substantially :the: samegpressurecontact with itheiroller I5.A Guide-.rollersll are journalled in cover II, as shown sin Fig. A, andv servetoguidethe sensitized-paper 25 across andA in `contact with the applicatorfrollers I;3 whereby the paperds wetted on one side'thereof in passing.

.The surfacefof rollersfI `is tpreferably.-nely grooved in `a direction .transverse :ofi-,the -axis :of the rollers to increase the ability of these rollers to takeup and 4retainsufcient amountsof .the

apparatus. "processing solutions will be applied directly to processing solutions as they rotate in the troughs I4. The applicator rollers I3 are themselves preferably rubber-coated while the guide rollers 24 are provided with a series of spaced circumferential grooves in which rubber rings 39 are positioned, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. The purpose of 'the latter 'is to l.prevent 'the tguirlerrollers 2lifrorn themselves being. wettedto any extent by contact with the applicator rollers before the .sensitized material enters the apparatus and to still .provide `the Anecessary pressure contact between .theguide rollers and applicator rollers to effectively draw the sensitized paper through the lnwgthisimannen very little of the tion, Athus .precluding saturation of the paper which would have no other result than to in- The rollers are themselves driven by means of a motor which is housed Yin the .unit .12 [il .along with :,a yconventional .gear 4reduction 'systemtthroughwbichithe gear Zf'lis driven atthe reguisiterspeed This gear meshes withtand driVesthe largengears which are xed to theshafts mounting the rollers I5. This is best ,illustrated in Figs. 1,and,3. In-y the described and preferred :form of any zallparatus, no rollers, Aother vthan rollers I5,..are .directly riven by vthe .Inotor and^ connecting .-gears. lfAlpplicator Lrollers I-3 are, however,I driven .by. `the frictional -contact theyzmake with-...rollers fI:5 ,;and guide `rollers V2li are :inaturn drivenwbythe frictional :Contact between :these and '.afpplicator rollers I3. It is apparent, however, .thatother arrangements `of the drive'means fmay .heemployed and: still fallwithin the .scopeyof (the present invention, although Ifhave `yfound-1theaabovledescribed arrangement =to vbe highly satisfactory and yet 'have the :advantage :of extreme A{sirnplicity. The .-relativedirectionsofsrotationrof the several rollers 4and' :the ymovement of 'ithe sensitized paper 'is .illustrated .diagrammatically .in Fig. 6.

An important feature .,of'pthe present :invention is the means employed vto insurezthatf the applicator rollers at 'each-processing station are '.uniformly coated Awith ,egual .amounts -of .solution I have :found that greater uniformity of ,coating of the paper is attained when xa Iplurality @of :applicator frollers, instead f of va f single .frollen :is-.employed to v:apply-the processing solution torthe paper. shortenedfbys having teach of.; a :plurality Lof; rollers applya small quantity .0f fsolutiongtozithezpaper surface than by having agsingle:rollerzapplythe' full amount .of solution fnecessary foritheztrteatment of Athe paper. lThe -latter .advantage is lost to some extent, ,'however, when rcneapplicator roller applies :a .greater quantity fofasolution :to the paper than tthe father. '-{Ifheadealcondition obtains when each ontheztwnirol-lersr applyfexactly half of the total-,amountpf solution .necessary for'the complete processing-of @the paper...v Ercm an inspection of `Fig r6, -it will be zanparentftthat,

. since thefapplicator roillerion the` leftrmakeszcon'- tactwith the 4wetted:surfacegfcf iathe'zuoller. If5 emerging. from theitroughzbefore the :.rightahand` roller-makes Vcontact withithiswsmfacejthezileft roller `will :ordinarily :receive amore solution than the right roller. To;compensatefor fthisnorto equalize fthe :solution rcarried by; each of the rapplicator :rollers .tor.the.senstize1d material; .zazsupplementary :roller "2.9 isi freely :supported in. :the

bightbetween .the two Zapplicatcr rollers I3. This .supplementary roller lits simplest formccom- Moreovery` .the required fdrying time :lis

5... prises a metal rod of circular cross section which has no actual positive 'connection to any of the other elements of the apparatus and rests by its own weight in the bight between the pair of applicator rollers. Because of its position, rotation of the applicator rollers as seen in Fig. 6 will impart a clockwise rotation to the supplementary roller 29. In so rotating, it will be apparent that the roller 29 will transfer some of the excess solution from the left-hand applicator roller to the right-hand applicator roller, which will, thus, tend to equalize the solution which each of rollers I3 carry to the sheet material 25 passing thereover and assure a more uniform distribution of the solution to the two applicator rollers.

Since the described apparatus includes twO processing stations, means must be provided to guide the sensitized material from one station to the next. The means employed comprises in part the metal strips 3e which are secured to a pair of transversely extending supports 3| which are fastened by brackets to the cover I l, as noted in Figs. 1 and 4. These strips 30 cooperate with the plates 32, which are secured to the bottom member IG (see Figs, l, 3 and 5), to provide channels extending between the strips 3U and the top edges of the plates 32 for guiding the paper from the first station to the next. It will be noted that the plates are designed to have edge contact with the moving sensitized paper to reduce to a minimum the contact between the emulsion surface of the paper and the upper edges of guide plates 32, whereby the possibility of causing streaks in the emulsion surface is reduced to a minimum. Although the plates 32 are not intended to function as strippers to remove the paper from the adjacent applicator roller I3, since the paper is not wetted suiiiciently to adhere thereto, it is obvious that they may be readily modied by changing their dimensions to have them lie in close proximity to the applicator roller to have this additional function.

A feeding table 33, secured to the casing, cooperates with a recess 34 formed in the cover II to facilitate the feeding of the sensitized material into the apparatus. In addition, guide means are provided to conduct the sheet material from the last processing station to an opening 35 in the casing, through which the processed material emerges from the apparatus. This guide means comprises longitudinally extending strips 36, the ends of which are secured to the inclined plate 31 which is in turn secured to the walls of the casing and which extends to the upper edge of the opening 35 in the casing. A pair of vertically positioned plates 38, secured to the end wall of the casing, constitutes the lower guide elements, the upper edges thereof extending to the lower edge of opening 35, and together with the strips 33, denning a channel through which the processed paper passes to the opening after leaving the last processing station. Since the paper is not sufficiently wetted to adhere to either the rollers I3 or I5, the strips 36 and plates 38 need not function as stripping elements, but it is apparent that they may be readily extended to a position immediately adjacent to the respective rollers to also function as stripping means, if so desired.

The speed at which the rollers I5 are driven will depend upon the kind of sensitized material to be processed and upon the type of processing chemicals employed, and to this end the drive mechanism housed in unit 26 may be of the variable-speed type, ywhereby different speeds are obtainable by a simple adjustment. At any rate, however, only sumcient solution is applied, and this only to the emulsion surface, to accomplish the desired degree of processing whereby the processed material wil1 emerge from the apparatus in a substantially dry or semi-dry condition.

It will be noted that the described device is so designed that all portions thereof are readily accessible for cleaning and for general maintenance and the whole may be dismantled and reassembled with ease and rapidity.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided means for obtaining all the objects and advantages of this invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A processing device for sensitized material comprising a casing and a cover therefor, a roller journalled in said casing, a trough in said casing for containing a processing fluid, said roller being partially immersed in the trough, a pair of applicator rollers, means securing said applicator rollers as a unit to said casing whereby said pair 0f rollers are spaced from each other andv maintained in contact with said first roller, a freely-rotatable roller supported in the bight between and in contact with the two applicator rollers, a guide roller journalled in said cover and adapted when said cover is positioned upon said casing to guide the sensitized material across the applicator rollers whereby said material makes contact with both of said latter rollers in passing thereover, means for rotating said first roller, and a pair of openings in the covered casing for feeding the sensitized material therein and for receiving the processed material therefrom..

2. A processing device for sensitized sheet material comprising a casing and a cover therefor, a roller journalled in said casing, a fluid container in said casing, said roller being partially immersed in the container, a pair of applicator rollers, a linkage joining said applicator rollers in spaced relation, means pivotally securing said linked applicator rollers to the casing whereby these are normally maintained above and in contact with said rst roller, a freely-rotatable roller supported by the two applicator rollers in the bight therebetween, a guide roller journalled in said cover and adapted when said cover is positioned upon said casing to guide the sheet material across the applicator rollers and in contact therewith, means for rotating said first roller, and a pair of openings in the covered casing serving as an entrance and exit for the sheet material passing through the processing device.

3. A processing apparatus for sensitized sheet material comprising a casing and a cover therefor, a plurality of processing stations therein, each station including a roller journalled in the casing, a fluid container in the casing, said roller being partially immersed in the container, a pair of applicator rollers, a linkage joining said applicator rollers in spaced relation, means pivotally securing said linked applicator rollers to the casing whereby these are normally maintained above and in contact with said first roller, and a guide roller journalled in said cover and adapted when said cover is positioned upon said casing to guide the sheet material across the pair of applicator rollers and in contact therewith, means for guiding the sheet material between consecutive processing stations, means for rotating each of said rst rollers, and a pair of open- 7 ings :in 'the'icovered asingzprcviding an @entrance andrex'itffor the sheetsmaterial passing through the processing .rapp aratus.

A; A-:processing device for sensitized materal comprising a. `,trough :for containing a .processngf solution;arollerfiourrlalled rnsaid :devc e.whereby it is partially immersed in the trough, a pairrof applicator-rollers; ya linkage joiningzisaid applicator :rollers inlsspaced relationrelative toirea'ch otherttoorm a .bght therebetween; meansfp'rvotally, securing .'sai'dalinkedrapplicator rollers to the device whereby these fare normally Imaintairnecl above and 1in :contact-"with said :rst Y roller :along lines :parallel 'Lto the axis of: "fthe,l latter, tanrfotherwisetimsupportedfrollerlying,in .the bight-ibetween thertwo applicator rollers,"1.=means mn':said device for guiding the sensitized 'material zacrossithe applicator irollersffWhereby y,the 'material makes contact: therewithvzin :'passing,v and means ffor impartingmotationftozthe rollers. f'

-5.l A: processing fdevice 'for .isensitized,..sheet material :comprising .-a trough .fior icontaining sa processingvsoluti'on; acroller journall'eduin said device whereby 1it.is partiallyimmersed :in .the

trrsugh;a Apair. of applicator rrollers, :connectingxi meansholing :said applicator rollers dn" spaced relation relative'to-each :other f to. form a fbight therebetween;meanszimounting .rsaid applicator rollers above @the Vfirst :roller 'whereby both applic. catorfrollerstmake longitudinalcontact withsaid y in said trough.

sReferences .Gitednn .the :le `of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number "Name Date 2,6055684 Najgels et al Aug. '5,1952

, FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country VDate =-"=5'9l`,`073 gGermany Jan. 15, 15934 

